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THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2001

A tip provided to police in New Mexico led authorities to the arrest of Shaun Murphy, an 18 year-old unwed father and oil field worker who bragged that he assaulted a gay, potentially transgendered, Navajo teen in Colorado.

The teen, Fred Martinez, Jr., was found beaten to death on June 16. He was 16.

Gay and lesbian groups in the Four Corners area are pushing for Martinez' death to be labeled a hate crime. But current Colorado statutes only define hate crimes based on a person's race and ethnicity, not sexual orientation.

Whether or not Martinez was killed because of his race, sexual orientation -- or both -- has yet to be determined.

Get the Story:
Tip led to Cortez arrest (The Denver Post 7/12)

Related Stories:
Teen-ager arrested in killing of Navajo (7/6)